Dozens of bills will pass as the Maryland General Assembly’s 90-day session draws to a close today, but hundreds more have already met their deaths in committee votes or languish in a chairman’s desk with no action taken. Here are a few that got some coverage during the session.

Homestead: A majority of the Senate sponsored a bill to remove the requirement passed last year that homeowners apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit to get a break on local taxes on primary residences. The measure passed the Senate overwhelmingly three weeks ago, but the House Ways and Means Committee has not taken action on the bill after last week’s hearing.

Chairwoman Sheila Hixson “doesn’t like the bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Ed Kasemeyer, the lead sponsor. County officials strongly opposed the measure, saying it would cost them millions in taxes they hoped to collect from landlords claiming the tax credit on rental properties.

Drugs: After gaining momentum in the House of Delegates, a proposal to reduce penalties for low-level drug users and dealers was rejected after opponents said it sent “the wrong message.” The Smart on Crime Act — sponsored by Baltimore City Democrat Curt Anderson — would have created a misdemeanor category of crime for petty drug possession and possession with the intent to distribute. Low-level drug offenders currently face the same 10-, 25- and 40-year sentences as major dealers, Anderson said.

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Noose: A proposal to make displaying a noose or swastika a hate crime passed 113-0 in the House of Delegates but stalled in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

False ads: A proposal targeting intentionally false campaign ads is also dead. House sponsor Jon Cardin, a Baltimore County Democrat, said the legislation would prohibit materials like the fliers distributed on behalf of former Gov. Robert Ehrlich and Senate candidate Michael Steele in 2006 misidentifying them as Democrats. The House last year passed an identical bill, but it died after the Senate took no action. The same happened this year.

Campaign finance: After supporters claimed to be closer than ever to passing a voluntary, publicly funded campaign-finance system for General Assembly members, the proposal failed again.

llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com